Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, attended an event at Santacruz, Mumbai on Thursday to celebrate his state’s Foundation Day. The event was attended by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and UP Governor Ram Naik as well.
Yogi’s speech focused greatly on history and culture. Speaking on the Kumbh Mela, Yogi said, “All sorts of research were taken into account to make the Ganga’s water pure, pious and clean and make arrangements hassle-free.” “So far, 3.5 crore devotees have taken a holy dip in the Kumbh Mela and by the end of congregation, we expect over 15 crore devotees will have taken a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers,” he said.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObF7XB22ifA]
Yogi Adityanath also highlighted his government’s decision to open up the Akshay Vat, which has been inaccessible to devotees for centuries, to the public. He said, “After 450 years, the devotees will have the good fortune of gaining darshan of the Akshay Vat. During Mughal rule, attempts were made to destroy the Akshay Vat but it was the Akshay Vat, it could never be destroyed. In fact, those who attempted to destroy the Akshay Vat have been destroyed themselves.” The Mahant of Gorakhnath Temple also mentioned the decision of his government to open up the Saraswati Koop for the devotees.
During his speech, he referred to Maharashtra as the ‘Land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Hindavi Swaraj’. He also asserted that it was in Maharashtra the Legendary King conceptualized his vision of Hindavi Swaraj. He also lamented the consequences of the Battle of Panipat. He said, “If there wasn’t a treachery in the Third Battle of Panipat, then the British wouldn’t have been able to rule India. And the descendants of Shivaji Maharaj would have helped us experience independence a great many years ago. If India hadn’t been subjugated, India wouldn’t have suffered a partition as well.”
Yogi Adityanath also boasted about his government’s crackdown on criminals well. He said, “We all know who the rioters are. And we also know how to answer them in their own language. And this is the reason why, while we are Worshippers of Peace, we do not hesitate to act for people’s welfare as well.”
The saffron-clad Chief Minister also asserted that the greatest enemies of the country were those who sought to divide people on the basis of Caste, Class, Region and Language. He said that such ‘isms’ weakened the country and it is only mere fantasy that we could be safe when our nation is threatened.
Invoking Prabhu Shri Ram, he said, “Why did Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram suffer 14 years of Vanavas? He suffered it so that the Rishis and Munis did not have to suffer the mischief of the Rakshasas. They were threatening the safety of Bharat. They were threatening the security of Aryavrata. And that is why Prabhu performed his Leela so that He could wipe out the Rakshasas and establish Dharma across the country.”
Yogi Adityanath also attacked the Congress party for forgetting the legacy of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He said, “The Congress party which is feeding off the contributions of the freedom fighters, that party has forgotten Lokmanya Tilak himself.”
The trend of changing names, which has come under great criticism from liberal quarters, was flaunted by Yogi as well. He said, “We feel great pride in saying that Maryada Purushottam Bhagwan Shri Ram was born at Ayodhya. Bhagwan Shri Krishna’s Janambhoomi is Mathura, Bhagwan Vishwanath’s sacred land is Uttar Pradesh. Along with a great many traditions, Shaktipeeth, the Holy Sangam of Ganga and Yamuna, the Holy Sangam of Saraswati, the Holy Land of Prayagraj and Kumbh is Uttar Pradesh. And that is why we have started rectifying the names as well. Allahabad has been restored to Prayagraj, Faizabad to Ayodhya, we are carrying all these programs forward.”
One particular portion of his speech that has gained a lot of traction on social media was his opinions on the recent arrests of an ISIS module by the Maharashtra ATS. The 9 arrested were allegedly plotting to wreak havoc at the ongoing Kumbh Mela. Complimenting CM Fadnavis, he said, “Your ATS did a great job by arresting the terrorists who were plotting sinister moves at the Kumbh,” before adding in humour, ‘However, had they entered Uttar Pradesh, we would have taken care of them at the Border itself.’
Thug Life ft Yogi Adityanath. ?? pic.twitter.com/yHHTqtahBx
— Err… एर्रर… ઍરર… (@Gujju_Er) January 25, 2019
He went on to add, “We have no hesitation in doing that. Those who play havoc with national security, those who play havoc with the security of our citizens, treating the notorious with notoriety is the call of these times and we would have definitely done that.”
Yogi Adityanath’s strict attitude towards crimes is well known. It was reported earlier that a total of 78 criminals have been gunned down and over 838 criminals have sustained injuries in over 3000 encounters carried out during the first 16 months of his government.
